Backyard music festival kicks off near Asquith

What started as a way to celebrate her 32nd birthday with friends a few years ago has morphed into a full-blown weekend music festival for Eliza Doyle.

(Eliza Doyle/Facebook)

“All my friends are musicians and I thought ‘oh I’ll get them to play’,” Doyle told 650 CKOM.

With a line-up of performers quickly growing Doyle realized she would need a stage, power generator and sound person.

After a successful weekend celebration, the musician discovered Doylefest might have to be an annual event.

“People started asking to do it again,” she said, “Every year I expand and want to do something more.”

This weekend Doyle is opening her 40-acre property near Asquith for people to walk trails, camp and watch live music.

“Folk duos, I’ve got full bands, a bit of rock and bluegrass,” Doyle said of the lineup.

A banjo player herself, she plans to take the stage with The Moonshine Misses.

It’s $30 a day or $50 for the whole weekend with music set to start at 7 p.m. Saturday.